Controller for electric-motor-driven pumps.



PATENTEDJAN. 13, 1903.

T. IRO'LSEN'. CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEN PUMPS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

% ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS TROLSEN. OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC-MOTOR-DROIIVEN PUMPS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 718,177, dated January13, 1903.

Application filed July 5, 1902. Serial No. 114,449. 7 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS TROLSEN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of NewYork, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Controllersfor Electric-Motor-Driven Pumps, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a controller for electric-motor-driven pumps,andparticularly to pumps of the kind employed to supply water to hydraulicelevators or tanks in the basement or floors of buildings to supplywater for drinking,flushing, washing and other purposes.

In systems or devices relating to the controlling of motor-driven pumpsconsiderable loss is occasioned by the friction which it is necessary toovercome and by the fact that the systems are not so adjusted as topermit of operation unless there is a considerable variation in pressureof the water in the tank. Among other things my invention aims toeliminate this friction and to reduce to the lowest practicable minimumthe variation of tank-pressure.

To accomplish the objects of my invention, I have devised a systemillustrated diagram matically in the accompanying drawing, to whichreference will now be made and the essential features thereof pointedout in the claims.

A designates a motor to which is connected any suitable form of pump forfilling the tank A with water. The tank A may be located in any desiredlocation, as the roof or upper floor or in the basement of a building,from which tank Water is distributed through suitable outlets. In orderto control the operation of the motor through the pressure of the waterin the tank, I provide in the circuit which includes the motor A anelectromagnet B, a pilot-electromagnet O, a rheostat D, a rheostat-armE, and mercury-contact cup F. Except when otherwise stated theseelements are of any usual or ordinary construction and their mode ofoperation well understood. In the drawing the various parts are shown inposition when the motor is at rest and when the pressure of water in thetank A is above that which necessitates further filling. The

tank A is connected with a pressure-regulator a of any approvedconstruction by a pipe (1, and when the pressure in said tank is low.-ered to a predetermined point the lever 01 of the regulator, which ispivoted at a on the regulator-frame, is lowered, thereby lowering theconnected contact-pin f into the mercury of the cup F, thus closing thecircuit through the motor and starting the pump in operation. The pumpcontinues to fill the tank A until the desired pressure is reached, whenthe lever a is raised, thereby raising the pin f and breaking thecircuit, when the parts resume their normal positions, as shown in thedrawing. The pin f is preferably made of metal and is connected to thelever a by a suitable chain f, from which it is insulated,

and to a flexible conductorf which latter is connected to the terminal 0of the circuit 1.

The core O of the magnet O is provided with two contact-plates c and 0,made of some suitable conducting material and suitably insulated fromeach other and from the core C. These plates are adapted to contact,respectively, with terminals 0' o and o 0". When the metallic pin fcomesin contact'with the mercury in the cup F, the circuit 1 is closed, thusenergizing the magnet O and drawing inwardly the core O. This brings theplate 0 into contact with the terminals 0 o and the plate 0 into contactwith the terminals 0 0 The current from lineM then traverses circuit 2through the rheostat 'D and rheostat-arm E to the motor A and outthrough the terminals 0 o to line N. The magnet B is included in thecircuit 3, comprising terminals o 0 and spring-contact O. The core B ofthe magnet B is connected by suitable means to the rheostat-arm E. Whenthe coil B is energized, the said arm is raised and passes to theextreme end of the rheostat for the maximum speed of the motor. Beforethe rheostat-arm E reaches the limit of its upward movement the plate 6on said arm contacts with the terminal 0 thus cutting in the localcircuit 4, which includes the lamp L. Continued upward movement of thearm E causes the extension 6 of said arm to raise the spring-contact 0from the terminal 0 thus cutting out the circuit 3 through magnet B andallowing only sufficient current through the local circuit 4: tomaintain the arm E at the upper limit of its movement.

The arm E remainsin its uppermost position until the maximum pressure inthe tank is reached, when the pin fis raised, breaking all the circuitsand permitting the several parts to resume their normal positions. I

The lamp L in the circuit 4 provides a resistance to prevent burning outof the coil B, and the lamp L reduces to a minimum the sparking in themercury-cup Fand prevents burning out of the coil 0.

A dash-pot G is provided for the arm E to permit its gradual ascent.

In prior systems the lever a of the regulalator was provided with aterminal plate, which made frictional engagement with the terminals ofthe circuit. This necessitated certain work to be done in order toovercome the friction. By the employment of a mercury-cup I do awayentirely with frictional contacts, and by the use of such cup inconnection with the magnet O to do the preliminary work of closing thecircuits through the main magnet B, I provide a much more delicatesystem and one in which a difference of three or four ounces of pressurein the tank A is sufficient to operate the motor, whereas in systemsheretofore employed a difference in the pressure in the tank A of fromten to fifteen pounds was necessary to start the motor in operation.

Myinvention introduces a method of operating electric-motor-drivenpumps, which, as compared with the methods now in vogue, is much moresimple and effective, besides being less expensive in its constructionand operation.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a controller for electric-motor-driven pumps, the combination of apilot-electromagnet, two independent contact-plates on the core of saidmagnet, a mercury-cup, a contact therefor and means to control themovement of said contact, a circuit including said magnet and cup, acircuit controlled by said contact-plates and a motor included in saidcircuit.

2. The combination with an electric motor of means for controlling theoperation of the same comprising a mercury-cup, a contact therefor, apressure-regulator to control the movement of said contact, apilot-electromagnet and suitable circuits controlled by said magnet.

3. The combination with an electric motor of means for controlling theoperation of the same comprising a mercury-cup, a contact therefor, apressure-regulator to control the movement of said contact, apilot-electromagnet, two independent contact-plates on the core of saidmagnet and suitable circuits.

4. In a controller for electric-motor-driven pumps, the combination of apilot-electromagnet and means to energize the same, two independentcontact-plates on the core of said magnet, circuits controlled by saidcontactplates, a motor included in one of said circuits, anelectromagnet included in the other of said circuits, a local circuitfor said lastnamed magnet, and means to cutout the main circuit of saidlast-named magnet after the local circuit has been cut in.

5. In a controller for electric-motor-driven pumps, the combination of apilot-electromagnet and means to energize the same, two independentcontact-plates on the core of said magnet, circuits controlled by saidcontactplates, a motor included in one of said circuits, anelectromagnet included in the other of said circuits, said motor-circuitincluding a rheostat the arm of which is connected to the core of saidlast-named magnet.

6. A controller for electric-motor-driven pumps comprising a rheostat, arheostat-arm, a magnet to control the movement of said arm, a main and alocal circuit for said magnet, a contact-plate on said arm adapted tocontact with the terminal of said local circuit and. a spring-pressedcontact in said main circuit adapted to be engaged by said arm.

7. In a controller for electric-motor-driven pumps, the combination of apilot-electromagnet and means to energize the same, two independentcontact-plates on the core of said magnet, circuits controlled by saidcontact plates, a motor included in one of said circuits, anelect-romagnet included in the other of said circuits, a local circuitfor said lastnamed magnet,'an arm connected to the core of saidlast-named magnet included in the motor-circuit, and suitable contactsincluded in the main and local circuits of said magnet, whereby by themovement of said arm the said main circuit will be cut out after the 10-cal circuit has been cut in.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS TROLSEN.

Witnesses:

ANDREW OLsEN, EDWARD FLooR.

